Roswold Law Group Blog

Civil War in KC? (County vs. City)

On Friday, Jackson County filed a lawsuit against Kansas City over TIF (tax increment financing). JACO Exec Mike Sanders claims KC mayor Funkhauser and the TIF Commission have effectively shut JACO out of TIF Commission decisions and denied the county a voice in spending tax money. Sanders further claims this has resulted in an unfair distribution of millions of TIF dollars, that there has been a diversion of tax dollars away from basic public services, and that county public services have taken a hit. The county's suit seeks a restraining order to halt all TIF projects until the process is reformed. The hope is that the dispute can be resolved quickly and amicably. Whether or not Crosby Kemper is correct that "nothing could be worse for economic development" in Kansas City than a JACO vs. KC civil war between tax entities, it's probably fair to say it won't encourage development.